HULL – A bill that would authorize a long-term lease for the land beneath the Paragon Carousel and for the adjacent Clock Tower Building was expected to be brought to the floor of the state House of Representatives today.

The bill would extend the current lease with the nonprofit Friends of the Paragon Carousel, set to expire in two years, for another 25 years. The rent would remain the same, $1 per year.

“It gives us some assurance that we will be here, at least for the next couple of decades,” said Patricia Abbate, executive director of the Friends group.

The carousel was built in 1928 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. and was the centerpiece of Paragon Park until the amusement park closed in 1984. A local effort saved the carousel from the auction block, and it was moved to its current site in 1986.

More than 100,000 people visit the carousel each year, and it is the setting for events ranging from children’s birthday parties to weddings and reunions, Abbate said.

The lease is for 31,440 square feet of land that also includes the Clock Tower Building, which was once a waiting room for the ferries and the town’s trolley line. It now houses an ice cream stand, the carousel’s offices, a studio where the ride’s carved, wooden horses are restored, and a Paragon Park museum, which is in its first full year of operation.

Abbate said the Friends group has made a number of repairs and improvements to the building, including overhauling the plumbing and electrical systems.

The bill was filed last year by state Rep. Garrett Bradley, D-Hingham, whose district includes Hull. He did not return a call for comment Wednesday.

The bill was endorsed by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, and is included in a group of bills that was to be considered by the House today.

State Sen. Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth, said he hopes to be able to get the bill through the upper chamber, but he also said there isn’t much time, with the Legislature’s formal session ending next week.

“We’re at the end of formal sessions and it is a crush of things hitting us,” said Hedlund, whose district includes Hull.

He said he has been a longtime supporter of the carousel.

“The whole idea is to keep them up and running,” Hedlund said.

Abbate thanked Bradley and Hedlund for their support.

Hull Town Manager Philip Lemnios said the town strongly supports the new lease. He said the Friends group has put a lot of effort into maintaining and restoring the carousel over the years.

“It would really help keep the carousel here for many years to come,” Lemnios said. “It is one of those things that connects families, connects Hull’s present to its past.”

Page 2 of 2 - The State House News Service contributed to this story. Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.